r Terre

ght as I presented Darla with my newest prize-

er retrieved from the storehouse yesterday," I said, a smug smile on my face. "It

murmured. Running a thumb along the razor-sharp edge, she drew a thin line of blood. Without a second thought, she broug

ho appreciated the lethal beauty of steel and blood. Not a fragile, sickly porcelain doll lik

s, but a frantic, deafening pounding

. My sister-in-law, Corinna-my brother Gideon's mate-burst in

orinna gasped for air, her fac

nce at the intrusion. "Corinna, get a hold

packing up the entire estate! She took all her personal guards, her servants, a

ver me. "Let her go. It saves me the trouble of looking at her sulking, vic

an rugs in the grand hall, took down the silver chandeliers, and even ripped the velvet curtains off the windows because she bought them! And worse... all the Alvarad

eet, the smugness compl

udy. Her usual poised, aristocratic mask was completely gone. Her hair

uppliers for Darla's Luna ceremony just arrived at the gates! They are tearing down the silk decorations and takin

was a glittering, empty shell. For the past year, while I was fighting at the border, we

fe; her wealth was my wealth. It had never occurred to me that Har

my arm with trembling, desperate hands. "She said she wrote to the

for a split second. And th

ink the supreme ruler of all Lycans and wolves has the time to entertain the jealous tantrums of a pampered hou

m the side, stepp

s this how a noblewoman fights? By throwing a tantrum over coins? Let her take her little rugs and curtains, Fletcher. True power is forged in blood and steel, no

Yes. I was a decorated Alpha warrior. My value was proven

red, looking at my panicked mother. "Why should

eek! And Darla's ceremony will be a laughingstock!

and forcing my hysterical mother

le, ever-obedient Harper who always looked at me with p

it c

desperate game of hard-to-get. She's stripping the house and freezing the funds

on her own. When she realizes that a female wolf without an Alpha's protection is nothing but prey i